2002 Lexus SC430 problems
Owners have filed 46 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Lexus SC430. Air bags is the most reported problem area, at 39% of complaints. Next are tires (11%) and suspension (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 46 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 39% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 4 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 4 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 61,000 miles 27 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 6 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 3 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 4 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 8 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 1 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 1 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 4 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 27 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 61,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 4 complaints mention a crash; 4 injuries reported.
It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 lexus sc430. The contact stated after shifting the vehicle into drive gear it suddenly accelerated and crashed into a neighbors door, fence, house and air condition. During the crash both the driver and passenger side air bags deployed. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact and passenger were taken to the hospital. The contact called the manufacturer and filed a complaint. The contact stated the vehicle accelerated after the battery was replaced. The failure mileage was 49,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 lexus sc430. While driving 20 MPH, a bus crashed into the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a scrap yard. The contact sustained whiplash. The dealer was notified, but ignored the contact. The failure and current mileages were 69,000. Updated 12/12/08 updated 12/15/08. Updated 12/30/08. Updated 01/05/09.
Trunk lid dropped and hit me on the head because the air(?) cylinders have failed and will no longer support the trunk lid when it is open.
My sc430 has had a strong sulfur smell from the exhaust system (after medium to heavy acceleration) since it was new. When I first mentioned it to the service department they told me I needed to put a few thousand miles on it and it should go away. I gave it several thousand miles and it didn't help. They then checked it out and told me they couldn't find a problem and referred me to a service bulletin that said I should try a different brand of fuel.
Received urgent safety recall notice on 8/11/2014. Called local dealer 8/12/2014 a.m. Was told dealership only receives one (1) replacement part per week so I have to be put on waiting list. Approximately 8 people ahead of me! The letter [xxx] , v.p. Toyota north america sent your agency on june 19,2014, stated the recall notice would go to affected customers once "sufficient replacement parts become available". That was 8 weeks ago, yet they can still only send one part per week?
Other model years of the SC430
- 2010
- 2009
- 2008
- 2007
- 2006
- 2005
- 2004
- 2003
- 2002